The Argentine cheated and knocked England out of the 1986 World Cup in the quarter-finals (a stage they would accept in Russia next summer) when Lineker was tournament top-scorer. “I thought Gary captured that well,” Gareth Southgate said later.

The England manager spoke of facing the unknown and the very well known after a draw which, despite the cautious qualification he placed on it, means there is no excuse if they again fail to get through to the knockout stages.

In fact, Southgate looked a relieved man – so much for his poker-face – and even name-checked the fact that he avoided the likes of “serious contenders” Brazil and, from Pot Four, “really dangerous” Serbia.

Southgate will also be relieved that having decided to base England the other side of St Petersburg, they do not face the most challenging of journeys to their group games: Tunisia in Volgograd on June 18, Panama in Novgorod on June 24 and then Belgium in Kaliningrad on June 28. A total travelling distance of 4,050 miles – less than the 6,000-plus, and different time-zones, it could have been.

If they get through then the last-16 is relatively kind, with England facing a nation from Group H – possibly Poland, Senegal or Colombia – although it would, potentially, be a quarter-final against holders Germany. But let’s not get carried away. Not this time.

“I go back to the last two tournaments, really,” Southgate said when asked what was his message to England fans. “We have to be focused, to make sure nothing is taken for granted which, in fairness, I don’t think is what happened. But we also have to handle the expectation of being one of the favourite teams in the group. For us, as a team, when you’re involved with England that’s the mentality you’ve got to have.

“You know as a second seed you’re going to play two teams ranked below you. But it’s still a bit of an unknown at this moment, it’s great now to get the videos out and start plotting and following exactly the players we’re going to be up against and the coaches.”

The presence of Belgium is fascinating and not least because of their formidable cadre of talent but also because most of it plays in the Premier League and they are coached by former Everton manager, Roberto Martinez. The interaction between the players from the various clubs – in particular Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea – will be an interesting sub-plot ahead of the World Cup.

“Belgium we know pretty much everything about,” Southgate said. “That will capture everyone’s imagination at home. Probably the best team they have ever had. There will be a bit of banter going on at Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea with all the players winding each other up.”

But Southgate knows that a composite team of the two sides would see few England players making it alongside the likes of Thibaut Courtois, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Kevin De Bruyne, Moussa Dembele, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Dries Mertens. That really is a ‘golden generation’.

While they are very well-known there is a little more mystery with Tunisia and, certainly, Panama. “There’s quite a bit of unknown in the group,” Southgate conceded. “We’ve never played Panama, I have ‘palled up’ with the coach from Mexico [Juan Carlos Osorio], so I was hoping he’d give me some insight.”

There is, though, a familiar face in Panama’s coach, Hernan Dario Gomez, who was in charge of his native Colombia when they faced a David Beckham-inspired England at the 1998 World Cup when, of course, Southgate was on the bench. Southgate also played against Tunisia in the tournament and the memories flooded back.

“Tunisia takes me back to Marseille, one of the best days of my life, playing my first game in the World Cup finals for England, an incredible atmosphere down there,” Southgate said. “Just the colour of it, the Beatles music playing before the game. It was a brilliant day. I remember sitting with Teddy Sheringham in doping control for an hour and a half afterwards.

‘‘It will be brilliant occasion to be leading the country out into that same occasion, the first game of the World Cup. I am hugely proud.”

That is the known, also, but there is plenty more of the unknown – and not least from England themselves. “I think what I’m mindful of is that we have a team I’m excited about but who don’t have the trophies and medals, the number of caps which winners and successful teams in past tournaments have had,’ Southgate said. “But equally I’m excited about them, I believe in them and we’re really looking forward to the World Cup.”

“But we have just come from two tournaments where Costa Rica and Iceland knocked us out. It would be folly for us not to be serious about our preparation, but also not being fearful. It is an important balance.”

Gareth Southgate says

"It's the first thing that went through my mind [playing Tunisia in 1998], it was a fantastic day to play in as a player and nice to relive that.

"Well we've got to find that out now, we haven't done as much research on the African teams yet but now we can really start to focus on that.

"I guess again there's a little bit of travelling and there's maybe a bit of room for injuries to clear them up. We've been good at writing teams off and getting beat by them haven't we? We're going to make sure we're prepared for these games. I'm really looking forward to getting on with it now.

"It's been great today mixing with some of the more experienced managers at World Cups but of course Roberto [Martinez] is in the same position as me.

"Travel wise the way the tournament is now you've got to be adaptable on the road.

"They're an outstanding team, they're ranked where they are in the world because of the players they have. That is top quality opposition.

"I think we've got to focus on the first game and go from there. The objective is to qualify from the group, there'll be ups and downs along the way.

"Through the qualifying campaign you don't think about days like today where it hits home. That's the beauty of the World Cup. It takes you back to that pureness of football. The whole country can get excited for it.

"To play for my country was an incredible honour, to lead my country is beyond that."

Jose Fonte's thoughts

Fonte won Euro 2016 with Portugal and is on the BBC's coverage of the World Cup draw:

"Definitely a good group to watch. We have to play them all and very exciting first game! Morocco is strong, Iran have a Portuguese manager (Carlos Queiroz).

"It's a very big rivalry, it will be like a derby. It will be fascinating for sure, everyone will be up for it.

"Obviously we are the European champions and have ambitions but we have to take it game by game. We are confident we can do it but have to keep our feet on the ground and approach like we did the Euros."

England vs Tunisia

Which one is the Group of Death?

There's always one but these all look pretty well balanced. Group B is tough on Morocco and Iran, Brazil have tough games against Switzerland and Serbia... it all looks dead equal on the face of things.

England have a winnable group, you'd think Germany, France, Argentina will make it out too, but there are a lot of similarly matched countries in there.

Pot 4 continued

Australia have France, Peru and Denmark in Group C.

*in voice of ISS64 commentator* It's NIGERIA! Who are in Group D with Argentina. That's five games against Argentina in six World Cups for Nigeria... what an odd coincidence. Leo Messi has to take on Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria then if Argentina are to progress.

Pot 3

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FIFA

Egypt are in Group A, Denmark can't go into Group B because there are already two European teams there and move to Group C with Argentina and Croatia.

Iran are next and they drop into Group B with Portugal and Spain. Iceland "who have more volcanoes than professional footballers," says Lineker, are in Group D and their opening match is against Argentina. What a magical start to a World Cup that is for Gylfi Sigurdsson and friends.

Costa Rica are in Group E. That leaves Tunisia and Senegal for England.

Body language experts welcome

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FIFA

It starts as a normal handshake, Putin puts his left hand around Infantino's and then Infantino doesn't seem to want to let go of their 'bro' handshake embrace. There's almost certainly nothing to read here but it's still interesting. Look at Infantino, acting like he's a real president.

Gareth Southgate on England's hopes

"I think the longest flight is three hours. We do that on our way to St George's.

"We have high potential, what we lack is experience of those big matches, few have won trophies. We can't go to a World Cup and not try to win it. A lot of these players will peak in three or four years but we can't write off the tournament.

"Our last two tournaments have been a disappointment. It's not up to me to put a limit on their expectations."

Shearer's not having it

"They have the best jets, the best coaches... I'm not a believer it makes that much difference."

Russia is rather large and if a team sets up camp on the west and has games drawn on the east... it's a lot of time spent inside a travelling vehicle. However, Shearer, a man who has actually experienced the travel involved in an international tournament, says that players aren't really that affected by having to travel hundreds of miles between games.

Vladimir Putin is on stage

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AFP

"Russia has a passion for football and have had many outstanding players over many generations.

"The most coveted trophy will be won by the team showing the most resilience. I would like to wish success to all the teams and I call upon all loyal fans to come to Russia and enjoy the finals of 2018.

"Thank you to all the Russian people who have worked hard over the last seven years to bring us one step further to the final tournament. Thanks to all 11 Host Cities who are doing a tremendous job"

Here comes the show

More superstars

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AP

The actual room is full now, which is good since the draw starts in five minutes. Or at least the entertainment begins. Personally, I'd by happy to watch Ronaldinho juggle the ball for half an hour and then just be told who's playing who.

Fifa's wonderful handling of journalists asking them questions

Infantino now lecturing 100s of journos on why we're here/what we should be asking. Implies only UK hacks care about doping & corruption & if journos from Peru or Australia had asked Qs he'd be talking about football....the Qs actually came from Brazil, Germany & 2 US outlets

World Cup stadiums

Three points if you remember this guy's name

Diego Maradona

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AFP

Many people will argue that Lionel Messi will not be truly regarded as the best player ever until he wins an international tournament, eternally trapped in the shadows of Maradona should he fail to do so. The original Argentinian king of the dribble, Maradona is in Russia to see who his beloved Argentina get. Considering Messi will turn 31 during the tournament, this could be his best and last chance to win while in his prime.

The stage is set

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AFP

The stage for the draw looks ever so slightly similar to the X Factor or one of those other Simon Cowell creations. Here's hoping Louis Walsh isn't there to critique Carles Puyol on his ball drawing skills.

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AFP

They've even cleaned the stage floor! Preparation. Sadly there are no jokes you can even make about hiring staff to sweep up a Fifa-made mess.

Gary Lineker defends decision to host World Cup draw

Arch-Fifa critic Lineker has faced accusations of hypocrisy since being announced last month as the surprise choice to present the ceremony in Moscow alongside Russian journalist Maria Komandnaya.

The Match of the Day host and BT Sport presenter, who will also anchor the BBC’s World Cup coverage next summer, has repeatedly attacked the game’s governing body and Russia’s hosting of its flagship tournament.

Lineker, part of the delegation which failed to convince Fifa to vote for England’s rival 2018 bid seven years ago, has previously accused it of being a “revolting organisation” and behaving like a dictatorship with “nauseating” levels of “corruption”.

Southgate vows not to take World Cup opponents lightly

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FIFA

Gareth Southgate has said that England are looking to set up camp in St Petersburg, a city which could, as Jason Burt has written: "Bring up the nightmare scenario in which his side travel more than 6,000 miles – 2,000 more than they did in Brazil – for the three group matches".

Paolo Wanchope is here

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REUTERS

This is how you know its legit. Paolo Wanchope, the star of that goal against Manchester United for Derby, is on the red carpet doing some chatting. What is talking about? We have no way of knowing for sure. But I suspect it'll be about that goal he scored for Derby while playing against Manchester United.

Former England player Alex Scott is also there. Basically, everyone is arriving now, for a draw which takes place in over an hour and a half, which makes me suspect that this draw might be more of a spectacle than simply watching some football people pull balls out of a glass bowl. Kasabian played some music at the Fifa Best Player Award show. Today it could be anyone. Let's hope for someone good. The Hives would be nice.

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BONGARTS

Germany have turned up too. Jogi Loew's side are in Pot 1, which means they could potentially be drawn alongside England...

Hello

Good afternoon and welcome to our liveblog as we cover all the action from the World Cup draw! What will the groups look like, who will England play, who will come up against Lionel Messi's Argentina? All the answers to these questions and more will be answered at some point after 3pm when the draw actually takes place.

Ex-president Sepp Blatter claims that European draws have been rigged in the past but current boss Infantino is adamant that everything in this international version will be entirely legitimate for today's draw in a very cold Moscow. And if there are two organisations you know you can trust, its Fifa and the Russian government. Reassuring.

Preview

Russia will host the 2018 World Cup draw in the next few hours, the glittering ceremony providing a welcome distraction to the unrelenting diet of doping and corruption news that has sullied the nation's sporting reputation in recent years.

The draw ceremony gives Russia the chance to showcase the cities and stadiums that will host the 32 teams next June and July. Former England striker Gary Lineker, the 1986 World Cup's Golden Boot winner as leading goalscorer, and Russian sports journalist Maria Komandnaya are the main presenters.

In a new simplified format, the teams will be placed in pots one to four from highest to lowest FIFA ranking with the exception of Russia, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, who are automatically in pot one alongside the top seeds.

Each pot will be emptied one by one into eight groups which will contain four teams each. Two non-European teams from the same confederation cannot be in the same group to avoid geographic clashes.

With 14 qualified European teams there cannot be more than two European teams in the same group.

"Really to be honest, if you are going to win the World Cup, it doesn't matter who comes out of that draw," draw assistant Gordon Banks, who won the 1966 World Cup with England, told reporters on Thursday at the Kremlin.

"Because you've got to get out there and you've got to play the best you can. Play as a team and keep going, and that's what we did when we won it."